Alarm of variable intensity



Nov. 13, 1928. I 1,691,081

R. c. PIERCE ALARM 0F VARIABLE INTENSITY Filed July 28. 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet ,Zvzvwzzor 3471172195 5? faymmzd Cffi'efae;

W 5 M l- V flttorney f Nov. 13, 1928. 1 1,691,081

R. C. PIERCE 1 ALARM OF VARIABLE INTENSITY Filed July 28. 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 fume-722507" 2% WTW/WZ p J 1m.

Att07725 @77207265 CCPz erce.

Nov. 13,1928. H 1,691,081 R. C. PIERCE ALARM 0F VARIABLE INTENSITY Filed July 28. 1922 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 I7Z'U67Ll07" m ne sfi 2245 77207268 ai zrce fltornc y Nov. 13, 1928. 1,691,081

R. C. PIERCE ALARM 0F VARIABLE INTENSITY Filed July 28. 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet. 4

fwz'axzm'z jaymmzd 62 66706.

flftmy 72 egg.

Patented Nov. 13, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,691,081 PATENT OFFICE.

RAYMOND C. PIERCE, OF ST; LOUIS, MISSOURI.

ALARM OF VARIABLE INTENSITY.

Continuation 0! application Serial No. 508.780, filed September 28, 1921. This application filed July 28, 1922. Serial No. 578,058.

This invention relates to an improvement in alarm clocks and particularly to an alarm clock in which the intensity of the alarm is progressively increased from a mere buzz to an alarm of full intensity. The present application is a continuation of my ap lication 503,780 filed September 28, 1921. his increase may be by one cycle or by a succession of cycles, the alarm dropping back to low intensity from high. 'A further object is the provision of an alarm of progressively increasing intensity in which the initial lntensity of the cycle may be varied and in which the variable feature may at will be entirely dispensed with. A further object is the provision of an intermittent alarm which may, as desired, be operated either with or without the variable feature, or be omitted. Further objects will appear from time to time in the course of the specification.

I illustrate my invention more or less diagrammatically in the following drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a rear view looking towards the face of the clock with the back plate broken away.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, with parts omitted.

Figure 3 is a section along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Figure 4 is a section on the lines 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a section on the lines 5-5 of Fig. 4. t

Figure 6 is a section on the lines 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Figure 7 is a section on the lines 7-7 of Fig. 5.

igure 8 is a section on the lines 8-8 of Fig. 6.

Like parts are illustrated by like letters and numbers throughout the drawings.

A, Fig. 1, is a main spring, diagrammatically illustrated, which drives the main spring wheel A which drives the central wheel A and actuates the center shaft A to which the minute hand A, Fig. 3, is attached. The center wheel A connects through the wheels A and A to the escapement wheel A and the balance wheel A". The hour hand A is actuated through a pinion A which is secured to the central shaft A, and meshes with the wheel A, the pinion A rigid therewith,

which meshes with the wheel A which is loose on the shaft A to which the pinion A is secured. The hour hand A is attached to the hub of the wheelA and turns with it.-

An alarm spring beneath the plate B drives the alarm spring wheel B Fig. 1 and through it the pinion B, the wheel B, the pinion B and the alarm escapement wheel B". The latter actuates the escapement lever B which is keyed to the shaft B and oscillates it.

Keyed also to the shaft B" and oscillating with it and'the lever B is a curved oscillat ing lever arm C, slotted as at C, which drives the alarm hammer C through the levers C, C, C, and C which are pivoted to each other and pro erly secured to the frame of the clock. 11 the end of the lever C is a pin C which passes through the slot 0 and is slidable therealong forming the driving connection between the lever C and the lever C Pivoted on the center shaft A is the guide rod D slotted as at D, which slotted end engages the link 0 and is also traversed by the pin G which thus rides both in the slots 0 and D Connected to the guide rod D and on the opposite side of the pivot point is a short lever arm D against which bears the guide rod spring'D which tends to force the slotted end of the guide rod in the direction of the shaft B". Midway on the rod D is the pin D which is yieldingly pressed by said spring D against the spiral cam surface D which is driven from the cam wheel D Fig. 1 acting through the pawl D which is attached to said wheel and the ratchet wheel D which is keyed to the shaft D on which the cam D is also keyed. The spring D holds the pawl D to the ratchet wheel I)". The cam wheel D turns on the shaft D, being held in place on the shaft by the cam D and the cam ratchet wheel D, see Fig. 3. The cam wheel D is actuated by the pinion D which is rigidly connected to the pinion D both working loosely about the shaft D. D is therefore actuated by the pinion D and in turn through it by the alarm spring wheel B The shaft D terminates outside of the frame in the thumb screw E through which the cam D may be set to position to give minimum initial intensity of alarm, or to any other position. The various positions may be indicatedby suitable markings on the outside of the case. The thumb screw E and the cam D can be turned only counterclockwise presses the release Wheel H down over the as seen in Fig. 1, this being the normal direction of rotation.

The position of the guide rod D along the link C is adjusted by means of the sliding control sector F with the ear F against which the end of the rod D is yieldingly pressed through the spring D and the lever D The ear F limits the movement of the rod D in the direction of the shaft B while the slot C and the pin C on the lever c limits its travel in the opposite direction, or in other words the rod D thereby controls the lever C The adjustment is made by pushing the sliding control indicator F, the travel of which is limited by the pin F 3 mounted in the sliding control sector F, which moves in the slot F in the plate F which holds the sector F against the frame element F G is an intermittent lever pivoted on the shaft G and actuated by the wheel A which is rigidly attached to the shaft A and is toothed to engage the stop G on the short lever arm G which is integral with the lever G. The sprin G tends yieldingly to press the lever arm i against the wheel A. The teeth of the wheel A are inclined and as it rotates they lift the stop G: and thus oscillate the lever G At the outer end of the lever G are the two stops G and G. the first of which, when the stop G is in the position nearest the center of the wheel A, and the lever G is accordingly in its position nearest the shaft 13, engages the triangular stop Gr which is set in the end of the arm C which is a continuation of the slotted link C. In such position the lever G and the stop G" prevent the oscillating lever arm C from moving. This position of the lever G is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. As the wheel A continues its rotation, the stop G is raised, and moves the lever G to the position shown in the full lines, releasing the stop Cr and the lever arm C.

The sliding sector Cr and the sliding control indicator G may be moved to hold the lever Gin an inoperative position, the pin G on the sector G engaging the end of the lever G as in Fig. 1.

The alarm is set by the alarm cam H which is keyed to the shaft H on which, located on the outside of the case. is a lever H Fig. 6. The cam H is shown in Fig. 1 as in an inoperative position. When the lever is turned about 180. the cam l1 will engage the end of the oscillating lever arm C and will thus prevent oscillation of the lever C.

The release cam H Figs. -l and 6 is rigidly attached to the wheel H both working loosely on the shaft D. The wheel H is actuated by the pinion A the wheel A and the pinion A which are all driven from the center shaft A The spring H when the release cam H" turns to the time set for release, as indicated by the alarm hand H,

ear H The stop H which is shown as integral with the spring H drops with it and releases the lever arm C and thus the lever C.

While I have illustrated a practical device, I wish the drawings and description to be taken as in a large sense diagrammatic. It is obvious that many changes might be made in the number, shape, and relation of parts, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

The use and operation of the invention is as follows:

I have illustrated an alarm clock in which the main spring drives the hour and minute hands in the usual manner. The alarm spring drives the alarm hammer through a series of levers as illustrated. In order to provide an alarm of varying intensity, I control the hammer blows on the bell bymeans of a progressively varied lever action. The initial lever C is curved and slotted and in this curved slot fits the pin C on the end of the lever C permitting a variable point of engagement between the two levers. As the lever C vibrates with the shaft B the nearer the end of the lever C is to that shaft, the smaller will be the throw given to the hammer. When the end is in the point nearest said shaft, the motion transmitted to the chain of levers is so small as to be taken up along their various pivotal connections, leaving the hammer C in contact with the hell, or if desired, giving it a very slight reciprocation to cause a mere buzz. The progressive increase of the alarm is provided by moving the end of the lever C outwardly from the shaft B to the outer end of the lever C, the length of the stroke of the hammer C being thereby gradually increased.

It is observed that an important feature of applicants embodiment of his invention has been the proportion of the two curved slotted links in such wise that their adjustment for motion in relation to each other would vary the length of the travel or reciprocation of the pin C along the slot D without cramping or jamming the pin. It will be understood that the pin C is rigidly secured to'the lever C and traverses or rides 1 along the slot D and the slot C The desired result is obtained as follows:

The point B is the axis of the shaft abou which oscillates the curved and slotted lever arm 0, both being shown in Fig. 1. The shaft A is the pivot about which the slotted guide rod D of Fig. 1 rotates. For the purpose of making the outer end of the guide rod swing concentrically with the ear F of the sliding control sector F, and for simplifying the construction, the pivot point of the guide rod D is shown in Fig. l as being located at the center of the clock, coinciding with the axis of the center wheel A The shape of the slot C" in the oscillating lever arm C must be such that when the alarm hammer C is restin against the bell C (as in Fig. 1) the lever 2 may be rotated through the angle subtended by the slot C The result of so shaping andlocating the slot C is that when the oscillating lever arm C swings to the position nearest the center of the clock, the hammer will be in contact wlth the bell no matter what the position of the lever C along the slot C Therefore the shape of the slot C must be a circular arc swung from a center located at the lower end of the lever C when the hammer C is resting against the bell C But it will be understood that the arc of the slot C varies in relation to the center about which the lever C turns as the link C is oscillated about the center B.

In order to have the shape of the slot D coincide with the circular are passed through by the pin C in its oscillating movement about the center B, it is necessary to make the center line of this slot a circular arc swung from B as a center. Since the slot D is fixed in shape it is obvious that it can be made to coincide exactly with the path of the pin C at only one position along the oscillating lever C. In order that this may be at-the position of greatest motion it is necessary that the slot D be fixed by swinging an are from B as a center, with a radius equal to the length of the oscillating lever C. Thus, when the guide rod D is in the position shown in Fig. 1 the path of the oscillating pin C coincides exactly with the slot D, but the path over which the said pin C oscillates is only a part of the total length of the slot, to wit the part from the said pin to the end of the slot nearest the free end of the rod D. The angle of oscillation of lever C is fixed by the design of the alarm escapement wheel B and the escapement lever B of'Fig. 1. As the guide rod D swings toward the shaft B the lower or inner portion of the slot D is brought into use first when the guide rod is nearest B, and then, as the rod swings away from B" the upper part of theslot comes into use until finally, at its farthest position away from B, the portion of the slot from the position of the pin C to the outer end thereof is the part through which the pin C oscillates.

The center of rotation of the guide rod D must then be fixed at the point which will make the center line of the slot 1) most nearly coincide with the various circular arcs swung by the pin C at its various positions along the slot C.

The progressive movement of the lever C outwardly along the slotted lever C is given it by the lever D which is pivoted on the central shaft A and is slotted at the end to receive the pin C Thus in its rotation it will rotate with it the lever C The spring I) normally forces it and the link C in the direction of the shaft 13, and towards the silent position. The pin D, however, is engaged by the spiral cam D which is rotated by the alarm spring, and as it rotates, forces the lever D and the lever C to their extreme outward position along the lever C. When the rotation of the cam is completed, the pin D is released, and drops back, under the influence of the spring D to that part of the cam nearest its center of rotation. The lever D and the lever C are thereby returned to the silent position, and the cycle is then resumed. The method or rate of increase in the intensity of the alarm can be definitely controlled in the designing of the shape of the cam. The length of the complete cycle can be controlled by varying the relative length of the radii of the wheels D and D.

If desired, the initial intensity may be varied by moving the control sector F to the left, and thus, by the ear F holding the end of the'lever D, and thereby setting the lever C along the lever C, to give the desired initial intensity to the alarm. If the control sector F is pulled to its extreme position on the left of the alarm, when set off, will start and continue at full intensity as in the ordinary alarm clock, irrespective of the rotation of the spiral cam.

Another method of varying the initial intensity is as follows. The cam D may be set to any desired position by means of the thumb-screw E. \Vhen the alarm is released the initial intensity of the alarm will depend on the position of the lever D which is held to the given position by the pin D bearing on the cam D I provide a device for ringing the alarm intermittently which may be used either in association with the progressive variation of intensity, or may be used when the sector F is set to hold the lever C at the position of maximum intensity. The intermitent effect is obtained through the oscillation lever G which is normally oscillated into and out of the path of the pin or stop G which controls the oscillation of the link 0 through its ex tension C. When the lever G is in operative position, the alarm is held in silent, being released by the lifting of the intermittent lever in the course of its periodic oscillation. The intermittent feature may be disposed of by the use of the sector G which, when moved to the right, engages the end of the lever G by the pin G and holds it inoperative.

It will thus be seen that the clock may be used either as an ordinary alarm clock without the progressive acceleration of the alarm, or the accelerating feature alone may be used, or the intermittent feature, or a combination of the two, which gives a succession of increasingly intense rings.

I claim:

1. An alarm clock con'iprising an alarm mechanism and means for actuating it, a percussion element operated thereby and means intermediate the alarm mechanism and the percussion element for increasing the impact of the percussion element on the bell, progressively from substantially no impact to a predetermined maximum impact, and means for suddenly reducing the impact to a minimum and again gradually increasing it to a maximum in a recurrent cycle.

2. An alarm clock comprising an alarm actuating means, a bell, a pivoted actuating lever adapted to be oscillated by said alarm, a percussion element, and an operative connection between said lever and said element, and means for varying the intensity of the alarm by moving said connection along said actuating lever.

3. An alarm clock comprising an alarm actuating means, a bell, a pivoted, arcuate, slotted, actuating lever adapted to be oscillated by said alarm, a percussion element and a connecting lever between said actuating lever and said percussion element a pin on the end thereof adapted to engage said slotted lever and means for varying the intensity of the alarm by moving said pin along said actuating lever, said means comprising a spiral surfaced cam rotated by said alarm actuating means.

4:. An alarm clock comprising an alarm actuating means, a bell, a pivoted arcuate, slotted actuating lever adapted to be oscillated by said alarm, a. percussion element and a connecting lever between said actuating lever and said percussion element a pin on the end thereof adapted to engage said slotted lever and means for adjusting the intensity of the alarm by moving said pin along said actuating lever, comprising a spiral surfaced cam rotated by said alarm actuating means, and a guiding rod yieldingly held in contact with said cam surface andadapted to engage and move said pin.

5. An alarm clock comprising an alarm mechanism and means for actuating it, a percussion element operated thereby, a bell and means for gradually increasing the range of travel of the percussion element from a predetermined minimum to a predetermined maximum, and means for setting said minimum at any point from zero to maximum.

6. An alarm clock comprising an alarm actuating mechanism, a bell, and a percussion element, a pivoted lever adapted to be oscillated by the alarm actuating means, a connection member between said lever and said percussion element, yielding means adapted to reduce the elfective length and oscillation of said lever by forcing said member toward the pivot point of said lever, and means for progressively increasing the effec tive length and oscillation of said lever by advancing said member outwardly along said lever, away from its pivot point.

7. An alarm clock comprising an alarm actuating mechanism, a bell, and a percussion element, a pivoted lever adapted to be oscillated, by the alarm actuating means, a connection member between said lever and said percussion element, yielding means adapted to reduce the effective length and oscillation of said lever by forcing said member toward the pivot point of said lever, means for progressively increasing the effective length and oscillation of said lever by advancing said member outwardly along said lever, away from its pivot point, and adjustable means for limiting the minimum effective length of the lever.

8. An alarm clock comprising an alarm actuating mechanism, a bell, and a percussion element, a pivoted lever adapted to be oscillated by the alarm actuating means, a connection member between said lever and said percussion element. yielding means adapted to reduce the effective length and oscillation of said lever by forcing said member toward the pivot point of said lever, means for progressively increasing the elfective length and oscillation of said lever by advancing said member outwardly along said lever, away from its pivot point and adjustable means for limiting the minimum efiective length of the lever by limiting the travel of the connecting member toward the pivot point of the lever, said adjustable means comprising a sliding sector and stop mounted on the clock frame.

9. An alarm clock comprising an alarm mechanism and means for actuating it, a percussion element intermittently operated thereby, a bell and means for controlling the impact of the percussion element on the hell by varying the length of the striking oscillation of said element gradually and progressively from no oscillation to maximum oscillation and abruptly back to no oscillation and thence repeatedly through the same cycle.

10. An alarm clock comprising an alarm mechanism and means for actuating it, a percussion element positively driven thereby and means intermediate the alarm mechanism and the percussion element for increasing and diminishing the impact of the percussion element in a continuous cycle.

11. An alarm clock comprising an alarm mechanism and a percussion element positively driven thereby, and means intermediate the alarm mechanism and the percussion element for varying its operative impa' t.

12. An alarm clock comprising an alarm mechanism and apercussion element poeitively driven thereby, a bell and means intermediate the alarm mechanism and the percussion element for varying the range of travel of the percussion element.

13. An alarm clock comprising an alarm mechanism and a percussion element positively driven thereby, a bell and means intermediate the alarm mechanism and the percussion element for gradually increasing the range of travel of the percussion element.

14. An alarm clock comprising a percussion element, a bell, a primary actuating element, a power transmitting lever and an adjustable connection between said lever and said actuating element, and a spiral cam adapted to adjust said connection.

15. An alarm clock comprising an alarm actuating mechanism, a bell and a percussion element, a pivoted lever adapted to be oscillated by the alarm actuating means, a link connecting said percussion element with said lever, a pivoted guide rod adapted to engage said link, yielding means adapted to force said guide rod and link toward the pivot of said actuating lever, a s iral cam rotated by the alarm actuatin mec anism and adapted to engage said gui e rod and to move it and said link against said yielding means and toward the outer end of said slotted lever, and adjustable means for limiting the travel of the guide rod and link toward the pivot point of the lever comprising a sliding sector and sto) mounted on the clock frame.

i ned at Columbus, county of Franklin and tate of Ohio, this 25th da 01 Jul 1922.

' RAYMOND PIE GE. 

